Yesterday morning we were in such a rush because we were a little
late leaving the house. We have a new addition to our family, Misty, our beautiful
baby girl grey rabbit. We adopted her from the SPCA as a birthday gift for our
baby girl’s 10th birthday.
I have to admit being very skeptical about bringing a rabbit
home because I knew nothing about rabbits except what I read about in the Peter
Rabbit books. But when I went to the
SPCA to see what this rabbit was all about that our daughter kept going on
about, I was immediately taken in by this little rabbit’s presence. There was
something about her I cannot articulate that drew me to her instantly. I
sat down and held her in my arms. A connection I cannot explain being
reconnected.
I adopted her on the spot but had to wait until the Saturday
before allowing my daughter to meet her. Misty was a surprise to her so when we
walked into the SPCA on the Saturday, she was devastated to see Misty had been
adopted. Not realizing she had been adopted by us for her. So when we asked her
if she wanted to hold the rabbit, she said, “But she has already been adopted.”
With much pathos I must add.
But we encouraged her to hold Misty and she did. Misty again
snuggled in her arms and I could tell my daughter was in love. When I told her
Misty was all hers, the expression on her face was priceless. Her eyes welled
up and she held Misty that much tighter and kept saying thank you mommy over
and over again. The love and appreciation in that animal shelter was so present
that I felt like I could touch it.
We brought Misty home where my son and husband were waiting
to meet her with the same amount of skepticism I had when I first thought of
getting her. But once they met her, they
too were captivated by this gently silent but very expressive little rabbit.
And she seemed to take to her new home as if she had been with us all the time.
There was no turning back, Misty had captured hearts.
Now before leaving the house in the mornings, we clean out
her hutch and make sure she has a run round the porch before she is left on her
own. Quality time with Misty is so rewarding because though she speaks no
words, I can feel her appreciation coming out of her whole being when we take
her into our arms. When we stroke her cheek, she closes her eyes and I swear
she purrs like a cat. She is a very affectionate little rabbit and loves to be
loved.
Reminding me that even in the rush of life if we could just
stop and appreciate the wonders of nature, we would lose all feelings of dread
and fear. Instead we would see that everything and everyone has a role to play
in this world we live in. When I take Misty out of her cage in the morning, she
looks at me like I am the best thing ever. Her little nose twitches. And she
gently waits to be touched and patted and stroked. My tension eases out with
each stroke I make on her soft, soft fur.
And then I sit with my daughter and watch her hop round the
porch. Eating the flowers that fall from the hanging basket. Exploring every
facet of the porch and again it is then that I understand the wonders of life.
That sometimes we just have to take the time to stop and watch life. Stop and
stand to the side so we can see what is right there in front of us.
And that’s what little Misty has done for me. For us. We
rush home to make sure she gets her time out of the cage. The neighborhood
children come rushing over to see her as well. She is like this little magnet
that is drawing people to her. And she doesn't even speak. But yet we all feel
she is communicating and connecting with us. Like she is speaking directly to
us. Our little bundle of joy helping us to
slow down, stop and enjoy loving her. And in doing so we soothe our own souls.
Allowing met to understand that in silence comes life’s
meaning because when we take the time to stop and be fully present in our
stillness, we hear the sound of silence. The sound of love. The sound of life. The sound of gratitude. Loud and clear. The powerful sound of silence.